Comedian JB Smoove will return for a 10-episode second season of “Four Courses with JB Smoove,” premiering in January on MSG.
On the series, Smoove, best-known to TV viewers as Leon Black on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” sits down with his pals (comedians, athletes, entertainers) for a four-course meal — where they talk about life in New York City (including the Knicks). The show’s first season premiered last June on MSG.
“Last season I knocked ’em all out at one time, but this time we shot the shows on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which means I ate a total of 20 courses,” Smoove told me. “I put on a couple of pounds but it was all for a good cause.
“What I love about the show is that everyone gets to speak; we interview each other and it’s as comfortable as sitting down with friends,” he says. “And there’s nothing better than showing up for a meal and someone else is paying for it.”
The upcoming season of “Four Courses” will feature Smoove chowing down at Amali Restaurant & Bar (E. 60th) with, among others, Darrell Hammond, Jim Norton, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Schirripa, ex-Knicks John Starks and Anthony Mason and “America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon. “It’s an interesting mix of sports, music and comedy and it’s really cool,” Smoove says. “That’s not fake food on the table — everything is real and that’s what makes this so fun. It’s not shot on a set, it’s in a real restaurant and people are speaking with their mouths full, cutting meat, eating their vegetables . . . most of the time I tell our guests, ‘Don’t eat during the day — you’re gonna eat four courses with your boy.’ ”
Call it the theater of TV
Broadway comes to TV, Act 1:
Tony winner Billy Porter (“Kinky Boots”) guest-stars on Wednesday night’s episode of “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m./Ch. 4) as a singing coach with a role on an “American Idol”-type show who’s accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old student at the New York City school where he teaches. Taylor Hicks, Ashanti and Clay Aiken play themselves.
Broadway comes to TV, Act 2: Tony winner Laura Benanti (“Gypsy”) will co-star in NBC’s live telecast of “The Sound of Music” (Dec. 5) and has a recurring role in the upcoming season of “Nurse Jackie” opposite Edie Falco.
Last, but not least . . .
“Moonshiners” returns for its third season Tuesday (9 p.m.) on Discovery . . . Wanna break a world record? Visit the truTV/“Guinness World Records Unleashed” arena Wednesday (2-9 p.m.) in Times Square with “Unleashed” host Dan Cortese; the series launches Thursday (8 p.m.) . . . Ch. 5 airs Monday’s Veterans Day Parade live (noon-3 p.m.) with “GDNY” hosts Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly.